Bodies found in a car fire early Friday in Mondawmin neighborhood had been shot

Justin Fenton and Justin George, The Baltimore Sun

City confirmed Saturday that a man and a woman whose bodies were found in a burning car in West Baltimore early Friday morning had been shot.

Police said it was still not clear whether they were killed by bullets or the fire and had no more information on the cause of the blaze. The fire was discovered at about 5 a.m. in the 2000 block of N. Monroe St. in the Mondawmin neighborhood, fire officials said.

"Whether or not they are fire victims or otherwise has to be determined by the state medical examiner," Baltimore City Fire Department spokesman Chief Kevin Cartwright said Friday.

The car appeared to have been found in an alley behind the 1800 block of Clifton Ave., where later Friday morning the ground remained heavily charred and police tape was still blocking parts of the alley.

Police said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is working to identify the bodies.